MLC threatens to quit if his allegations about GMC machinery found incorrect

BJP Member alleges Govt misleading Upper House

* Health Deptt gets Rs 900 cr under PM package: Bali

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Jan 12: BJP Legislator Ramesh Arora today threatened to quit as member of the Upper House, if his allegations with regard to non-functioning of several machines in Govt Medical College Hospital, Jammu and poor infrastructure, were found wrong.
While raising a question and subsequent supplementaries on non-functioning of several costly machines including CT scan in the Govt Medical College Hospital, Jammu and CD Hospital here, in the Legislative Council today, the BJP Member trained guns at his own party Minister Bali Baghat and alleged that the reply being provided in the House was factually incorrect and misleading. He also raised serious allegations and used some derogatory words against reply of the Minister, which however, were expunged by the Chairman of the Legislative Council, Anayat Ali.
The Minister in his reply said that he respects the sentiments of the senior member as he has lost his son recently and a committee has also been set up to probe the matter. He however, claimed that the machine and equipment including platelets making is operational in SMGS, Hospital Jammu and SMHS, Hospital Srinagar. And the CT scan machine installed at CD Hospital Jammu is also in working condition.
Arora dared Minister to prove that all these machines were functional and pleaded the chair that minister was trying to shield his own staff or the staff has provided wrong information. He said that even the Chairman can send a team to check the status of these machines. And if his allegations were proved wrong, he will quit as Member of this House. The Minister, however, said that he would get the fresh details about the present status on the request of the members and if he was provided wrong information by his staff, he will take strict action against them. He also declared to share the information in the House in time bound manner in next couple of days. The chairman also intervened and asked the minister to probe the allegations at his own level.
The BJP Member further alleged that casual approach was being adopted for cross match of blood in the hospitals, resulting into casualties in transformation of serious diseases, and required separate independent set up for checking so that patients should get minimum guarantee of the fact that blood, plasma and platelets are properly checked before it is administered to the patient. He also pointed out Union Health Ministry has identified 360 essential drugs which cover about 90 % of the diseases to be provided to the patients under Free Medicine Policy then why only 44 are available in the hospitals in Jammu. He alleged that even these medicines are not available in various hospitals and worst was the condition in GMC, SMGS and other hospitals in the State. The over all condition has badly deteriorated, he added.
The minister replied that J&K Medical Supplies Corp has already finalized the annual rate contract of 552 molecules and have placed purchase orders amounting to Rs 79.12 crore for medicines, IV fluids etc. The rates for additional 41 medicines have also been approved by State Level Purchase Committee on 7-1-2017. He claimed that medicines, instruments, bandages, injections and other life saving drugs are being stored in the ten drug ware houses created at Kathua, Rajouri, Doda, Nagrota (Jmu), Drug Ware House GMC , Anantnag, Baramulla, Srinagar and Leh. From these drug stores the medicines are being distributed to the other hospitals. He admitted that all hospitals could not be covered so far but from April this year, all the hospitals would get these drugs free of cost. Other members Sajjad Kichloo and Saifuddin Bhat also raised additional questions.
To a yet another question of Congress member Ghulam Nabi Monga, Health Minister Bali Bhagat said that presently 4434 hospitals are functioning in the J&K State and against the sanctioned strength of 7514 posts of doctors and 18436 posts of paramedical staff, 5036 doctors and 14686 paramedical staff are in place. The vacant posts are being referred to the recruiting agencies shortly. Under NHM various posts are also being filled up on fast track basis. He said in last two years, no PHC has been upgraded.
Replying to another question he disclosed that eight mother- child hospitals have been sanctioned in the state for the town like, Bhaderwah, Rajouri, Kishtwar, Doda, Kathua, Baramulla, Sopore and Kulgam. All these are at different stages of completion.
On Baramulla MCH, Rs 2core have been spent and the building is almost complete. Bhagat also said that for five Medical College in Jammu Rs 189 crore each has been sanctioned. Besides this, Rs 50 crore for machinery, equipment and furniture have also been sanctioned. On Medical College Baramulla Rs 4 crore has been spent so far.
Replying to another question of Monga, the minister said that Rs 900 crore has been sanctioned to the Health sector in J&K under PM package. Rs 524 has been approved and Rs 204 crore is being provided during this year.